Berbice residents now have the opportunity to obtain a degree in social work without being burdened by the financial and other costs of travelling to the University of Guyana Turkeyen campus to attend classes.
This follows the launching of the programme at the Tain campus in Berbice last week. The move to offer the degree programme at the University of Guyana’s Berbice Campus (UGBC) has been lauded by students, many of whom were unable to pursue the degree after completing the diploma in social work.
Some students have waited for as many as six years for the opportunity to further their studies.
Higher education
Speaking at the launch of the programme last Tuesday, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster noted that the government remained committed to ensure persons continue to have the opportunity to lift their standard of living. “I know President Donald Ramotar is committed towards providing the requisite support to ensure that we improve the quality of higher education delivered in this institution.”
She said social work was critical to Guyana’s development. However, she warned that there was need for the social work programme to be accepted in other Caribbean countries and to have Caribbean students enrol in the programme. She said when the students obtained their degrees, it would not be the end of their training.
Noting that sexual abuse, human trafficking and gender violence make headlines daily, the minister called on the Faculty of Social Sciences to consider the issue of suicide in Region Six.
UG Sociology Department head Dionne Frank noted that offering the degree programme in Berbice is part of the department’s plans to reposition social work education and training in Guyana as tools to enhance economic development.
The diploma programme was introduced at the university in 1971 and 18 years later, the bachelor’s degree programme was added. “This is attributed to the fact that we say a growing number of graduants expressing a desire to continue their studies.” The diploma programme was a part of the UGBC course offerings from the inception. From an initial intake of 10, the social work class has been growing steadily since and this year’s freshman class has 75 students.
“Those students from Berbice who were privileged to attend the Turkeyen campus constantly kept reminding us of the constraints that they face in attending that campus.
Today, the university is excited to be responding to the needs of the growing number of graduates of the diploma programme in Region Five and Six who waited to have their legitimate expectation for opportunities for higher education in their field met,” the departmental head said.
Postgraduate programme
Frank added that the postgraduate programme will be offered at the UGBC next year.
Also speaking at the launch was UG Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi, who said two other programmes are soon to be introduced at the Tain campus. Noting that the social work degree is the third degree programme being offered at the UGBC, he said shortly a degree in biology will be offered, while a degree in banking will come on stream soon after.
